Most of the major religions claim to have an idea of what happens after death. Some talk about a final judgement that follows the end of the world (time-scales differ).
Until this final day of reckoning, it is thought the soul remains asleep.
According to certain religious groups, his final day is coming very soon.
What happens to the soul after death?
Christians, Muslims and Jews have varying beliefs about afterlife and heaven, and within those faiths there is endless disagreement.
As far as the soul is concerned, there is a lot of debate and disagreement about what is exactly meant to happen to it immediately after death.
Even people of the same religion can't agree about exactly what happens.
Disagreement about the afterlife
Many Catholics believe that souls suffer a period known as purgatory, where they must stay until cleansed of their sins; other Christians believe that good people go straight to whatever version of paradise they believe in.
One prevalent theory is that there is a 'holding' place - an intermediary between life and death.
After death in different faiths
Some faiths, such as Hinduism, believe that souls are reincarnated in different forms until they find enlightenment. Some people believe in punishment after death (hell), while others don't.
There is only one certain fact to be gained from all these different ideas, which is: Not one single person has ever come back to tell us what happens after death. Anyone who tells you that they know what happens when we die is not telling the truth.
NOBODY knows- please remember that! If anyone tries to tell you that they "know" God's mind: They don't.
Until this final day of reckoning, it is thought the soul remains asleep.
According to certain religious groups, his final day is coming very soon.
What happens to the soul after death?
Christians, Muslims and Jews have varying beliefs about afterlife and heaven, and within those faiths there is endless disagreement.
As far as the soul is concerned, there is a lot of debate and disagreement about what is exactly meant to happen to it immediately after death.
Even people of the same religion can't agree about exactly what happens.
Disagreement about the afterlife
Many Catholics believe that souls suffer a period known as purgatory, where they must stay until cleansed of their sins; other Christians believe that good people go straight to whatever version of paradise they believe in.
One prevalent theory is that there is a 'holding' place - an intermediary between life and death.
After death in different faiths
Some faiths, such as Hinduism, believe that souls are reincarnated in different forms until they find enlightenment. Some people believe in punishment after death (hell), while others don't.
There is only one certain fact to be gained from all these different ideas, which is: Not one single person has ever come back to tell us what happens after death. Anyone who tells you that they know what happens when we die is not telling the truth.
NOBODY knows- please remember that! If anyone tries to tell you that they "know" God's mind: They don't.
